chimpanzees

Fantastic B’s And Where To Find Them

January 5, 2022 by Chad de Bree

This week has started with a year brand new,

So here is the Eve of Burrito, Part II.

The day began as I walked through the gate,

Opening the Chimp House not a second late.

In this community lives magnificent beings,

When you meet them you’re overcome with feelings.

But this day in particular I’m looking one,

His name starts with a B and he likes to run.

I head through the door and who do I see?

Why, it’s one of my other friends, Mr Willy B.

“Hey you human! I am glad you are here!

There is a peanut out of reach, right over there!”

“Here you go friend,” I say with a smile,

“I wonder if you could help me all the while?”

“I might, but make it quick!

I have neighbors to rile up and doors to kick!”

Willy B is a big mighty man,

So without hesitation, I told him my plan.

“I’m looking for someone whose name starts with a B,

You’ve met him before, though it was not meant to be.”

He looked at me with a stern look on his face,

Then looked around to survey the entire place.

“Ah yes, I know such a person,

They are in the mezzanine, but they can be a diversion.”

Off I went, to the ladder I climbed,

I peeked my head over and who did I spy?

“My sweet Honey B, it’s great to see you,

Could you help me find another friend too?

He’s wild and crazy, and spies all day long,

And just loves Giant Kongs!”

“Oh that guy? Last I saw he was in the window,

But he seemed like he was on the go!

It was nice seeing you too, you bum,

Now if you please, I’m quite busy with this gum.”

I race to the Playroom to see my old friend,

But I’m met with a dead end.

The Party Police Enforcement is on patrol,

And she will not let me pass. She is in control.

“Please ma’am,” I beg her.

“I just want to see the fantastic B without causing a stir.”

“You may only pass if you do this one favor.

Let me groom your boots, and enjoy my labor.”

No matter who you seek, you have to appease the boss,

No matter the quest, no matter the cost.

She pays exquisite detail to her grooming,

To keep all boots clean. I’m assuming.

“The one you seek is in the Greenhouse,

He has not been quiet as a mouse.

Laughing and playing all day,

Sometimes it’s too much, so you will pay.”

I thank her for her service and head outside,

I just hope she hasn’t lied.

I open the door to the this indoor-outdoor space,

There was a flash of fur, seemingly in a race!

Bronx cheers, stomping and breathy panting,

His knack for fun is really uncanning!

He swings from the platform to the door.

Could I ever ask from more?

“Oh Bubba!” I exclaim.

“There’s something first I want to proclaim!

Tomorrow is your birthday, you’ll be 39!

At that age, you are looking just fine!

“There will be everything that you enjoy,

So please when you see it all, don’t be coy.

There will be slinkies, blocks, chase and spaghetti!

Things will be thrown around like confetti!”

“That’s nice and all,” he replied.

“I hope to wake tomorrow and not find out you lied.

But that is all for tomorrow, I’m just focused on now!

So get me some snow, before J.B. gets in the plow!”

I abide his request, and give him a snowball.

One is not enough. He wants it all!

After he savors every last bite of the snowy treat,

It’s off the the races, not one I can defeat.

So I hope you all are prepared for tomorrow!

Fun will be had by all, so be sure to follow!

Happy Burrito Eve, everybody!

Some bonus photos of Mave and Dora!

Chimp ID: Cy

January 4, 2022 by Kelsi

Today’s blog is all about how to ID our lovable friend, Cy! Out of all the chimpanzees I have worked with over the years, I have never met a chimp like Cy. Each chimp I have met has amazing and different qualities about them, but Cy is kind to his very core. Even when he is displaying, he has a play face, he just never seems mad.

Cy is a big guy with an even bigger heart!

Cy has the kindest eyes.

Cy has a prominent white beard. From the front he has very dark features, but from behind his hair is more grayish white. We joke that he reminds us of a gorilla from behind!

Cy is an good leader. He knows how to navigate social situations extremely well. He can recognize when to let things go and when to make a point.

Cy is a bibliophile

Cy resembles his sister Lucky quiet a bit!

Cy is the type of guy to become your instant friend. He will want you to play chase, sit while he tickles the back of your hand, or just hangout with him while he reads.

Cy is also stubborn! He and Lucky are often hold outs, like their half sister Honey B!

Beasts of the Northern Wild

January 3, 2022 by Anthony

Our particularly wintry December has transitioned into an even colder and snowier January.

The team has been busy shoveling paths around the Chimp House, endlessly plowing the property’s driveway, and entertaining the chimps (who are unanimously choosing to lounge indoors during the current snowstorm).

Yet another daily chore has been making it out to the winter paddock to muck the barn and provision the sanctuary’s bovines with fodder. Earlier today, caregiver Sam could barely see where she was driving the John Deere as the wind sent snowflakes whipping past her face. On top of all this, her snow shovel went rogue, somehow came to rest on the Gator’s gas pedal, and almost sent the whole rig fish-tailing into a snowbank. While laughing about it afterward, Sam said the ordeal was worth it to see the cattle happily munching on their grain and alfalfa.

Even though their seasonal paddock is covered in a blanket of fluffy snow, the rescued Jersey cattle have been making their own paths across the frozen terrain, thus ensuring that they can reach all their preferred shelters. During one of yesterday’s brief moments of clear sunshine, I served some hay at the furthest barn to entice them to stretch their legs. Unsurprisingly, they had already blazed a trail up there and almost beat me to the far gate.

Here are some photos of the Moo Crew and their surroundings:

Meredith, Nutmeg and Betsy wait for hay at the paddock gate

A dark-eyed junco perches on the old paddock fence

Meredith hesitantly follows me across the pasture with her usual skepticism

Honey, the herd’s matriarch, looks back to check on the others

Honey sniffs around for the grain bucket

Mule deer cut across the pasture right before sunset

The view from the upper limit of the property

Happy New Year To(es) You

January 1, 2022 by Diana

First, please pardon my attempt at a pun in the title of this blog post. I think it’s fair to blame some other staff for their pun-influence. I am not even sure it qualifies as a pun, but somehow I couldn’t help myself.

Second, today is the first day of 2022. You know that. I’m just still trying to digest that fact. 2021 was a huge year for Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest. We are forever grateful for all of the support that blog readers have shown. All of our matching funds were realized this month, and we are off to a great start for another big year that’s full of the promise of new habitats and new adventures for all of the animals in our care. Thank you.

Third, I hope this video gives you as much joy as it did me when J.B. showed the clips to me on his phone.

A very happy new year to all of you, from all of us, right down to our toes.

Cold Snap

December 28, 2021 by Chad de Bree

The Pacific Northwest is experiencing a cold snap this week. Today the high is 18ºF with a low of 5ºF tonight. With temperatures such as these, the chimpanzees have sought refuge in the upstairs areas of their respective playrooms where it is nice and warm. They are all napping as I write this.

With days like today, it can be difficult to get photos of the chimpanzees. The upstairs areas are notoriously difficult (read pretty much impossible) to take photos of. I was able to get a few opportunistically throughout the afternoon, mostly during lunch when they all came down.

Willy B working up his display toward Cy’s group during lunch service.

Dora waiting for her turn to be served her lunch.

Rayne eating her primate chow on the highest leaf platform on the tree in her playroom.

Micro/Macro: The Sequel

December 27, 2021 by Anthony

Today’s post is a sequel to a blog entry I penned back in October: Micro/Macro.

In case you’re short for time or simply don’t want to delve back into the archives, I’ll briefly summarize the first post with this TL;DR (“too long; didn’t read”):

Macro photography is the practice of photographing objects so they are magnified at a ratio larger than 1:1. It’s good for taking pictures of small subjects or zooming in on select portions of larger things. I personally rented a versatile macro lens for my Nikon camera (they call theirs a “micro” lens) and used it to take close-ups of the chimps. Some of these images turned out nice.

Well, it probably won’t surprise you to know that I eventually purchased the micro lens for myself (partially because I’m committed to improving my skills and partially because I’m a helpless sucker for Cyber Monday deals on new tech gear).

The lens arrived on Christmas Eve and I immediately brought it to the sanctuary the next day. Some of the chimps were once again patient enough to model for me as I reacquainted myself with the new glass. Half-sisters Honey B and Lucky were extremely interested in the lens and kindly tolerated my company as they relaxed in their indoor areas, resulting in the following photos:

Honey B foraging and unwrapping gifts on Christmas Day

The Eve of the Eve

December 23, 2021 by Sofia Castro-Loza

Holiday preparations continue as caregiver elves now take on the challenge of wrapping at record pace all the toys that were so nicely donated by our amazing supporters. For the chimps today is just a normal day. Willy B, Honey B and Mave got some hanging puzzles as enrichment this morning to encourage foraging behaviors. Willy B was all about it!

Here’s two sequences of Willy B getting going nuts about nuts!

Sequence #1